AN Ipswich Store Manager 'sneaked' into the shop on a Sunday and stole more than £4,000.New Look's Deputy Store Manager Nicola Allen used her specially coded key to enter the clothes store, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

AN Ipswich Store Manager 'sneaked' into the shop on a Sunday and stole more than £4,000.

New Look's Deputy Store Manager Nicola Allen used her specially coded key to enter the clothes store, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The 32-year-old mother of three then took the Saturday's takings of £2,880 from the safe, gift vouchers worth £1,500 and the security video recorder and tape.

Rauf Saquib, prosecuting, said Allen, of Wades Grove, Kesgrave, had initially denied theft from the Tavern Street store, putting the blame on somebody else.

When the hoard of cash minus £400 and the gift vouchers were discovered by police in the boot of her car, she admitted the offence.

Hugh Vass, mitigating, said Allen had followed her partner, whose promotion within Kentucky Fried Chicken, brought him to Ipswich.

Allen left her supportive Jehovah Witness family in Birmingham to be with her partner.

Mr Vass said she had worked at New Look for about three months. She was then told the store was relocating to the Buttermarket and she would either have to move to the Sudbury branch or face demotion to Sales Assistant.

Mr Vass said Allen, who is of previous good character, had expressed her remorse and said she was 'deeply unhappy' at the time of the offence.

Judge Nicholas Beddard said a year ago Allen could have expected a prison sentence, and this breach of trust, which involved her 'sneaking into the store on a Sunday' justified such punishment.

However he added, that because of Allen's personal circumstances, a community punishment could be passed.

Allen was ordered to carry out 160 hours community service and to pay £400 compensation to New Look.